Anybody want to learn some beginning programming?
 

I was thinking about it the other day, and I realized that for anybody interested in getting into programming, Javascript is the perfect answer for beginners... it's lightweight, it makes a great jumping-off point to other, more powerful programming languages (Java, C++, C#, etc.), and everybody who owns a semi-modern computer has a FREE Javascript interpreter built right into their web browser, so there's no software to buy.

One reason that many people don't get into Javascript too much is because they have to learn HTML first, which is brain-rottingly boring for many people... so they lose interest quickly. So, I slapped together a tool to make it easier to learn Javascript without knowing much HTML, and then one has the option to learn HTML later if one wants to.

So, I was thinking if there's enough interest, I'd start a thread to teach Javascript programming, and open up access to the tools and code I've written. The idea would be more along the lines of Learn-programming-through-Javascript rather than an exhaustive lesson on the language. It would demonstrate how object-oriented programming works, and allow a forum to ask questions openly.

So, anybody interested?

hit it. i'm in.

unless there's homework. or reading. or learning of any kind.

-sm

Sounds good to me. I'm in.

Yes please

mmmmm....knowledge[/homer]

yeah, baby, yeah.

where would this skill be useful for a schmuck like myself? I'm interested to learn, just for the sake of learning, but if there was a practical application, I'd probably be even more interested.

Tell me some of the fun stuff I can do with it.

Y'know, for some reason I could never really get my brain around javascript. Never had much problem with any other languages I took a stab at, but JS never made any sense to me. I would be thrilled to actually understand it, so count me in. :)

Sure ... and thanks for pointing out that learning HTML is brain numbing boring, so now I know it's NOT JUST ME. ;)

Well, Javascript itself is only useful for web-related stuff, you won't be able to write a Windows executable with it or anything. But with the general object-oriented programming knowledge that Javascript can teach you, you can easily move on to Java, C, C++, C#, or whatever. The point of this exercise is mostly to teach objec-oriented programming concepts using Javascript, as a stepping stone, and if you decide that you want to master Javascript, it wouldbe at your own option.

Examples... The Random Expletive Insult Generator is 100% Javascript. The effects on my poor, neglected website are mostly Javascript. Javascript can verify form data, write dynamic page conent, animate page elements, do math, create rollover buttons, etc. It can also be used for subtler things, like pre-loading large images while the user reads. But like I said, the whole point is to teach programming, not so much to become a Javscript pro.

I think there's enough interst that I'll give it a go... I just didn't want to end up talking to myself. :D When I get a few free minutes I'll start the thread, and link to it from here.

JS is the tool of the devil :P
If you can't do it serverside it has no place on a website ;)

agreed. You will no doubt resent my bringing this up, but you're far away, and I'm bigger than you, so I'm going to anyway:

This should take place in your own User Hosted Forum.

you come up with enough cool and long lasting thread ideas, you could showcase your art, your haiku, and it would make this a lot easier to find.

We've argued about this before, i know, but I think we need to hear from the masses!

who's with me?......c'mon...alan is a little shy
....he just needs a little nudge

does anyone have any suggestions for a name for Hot Pastrami's forum?

Just thought I'd throw in a plug for my little C++ pointer tutorial.
(Click my "www" button, then go to the bottom of my web page).

I've done a wee bit of Javascript, but nothing worth sharing.

I don't think there's any need to encourage or discourage personal forums.

But if he wants to do it, "Hot Pastrami's Deli" has a ring to it. :)

Does that sort of thing really have to be public?

I mean, if HP wants a user-hosted forum, can't he just send UT a private message? Do we have to get out the poll threads, the public discussion on who should have one and who shouldn't?

Honestly? I don't give half a fuck who has one. Let it be.

Not singling you out, LJ. I'm just still kind of pissed off over the last big "user-hosted forum" pile of shit.

yeah, there's no NEED to do it, but can't you just imagine him squirming right about now?

i like the deli!...great name

whaddya got sand in yer vagina?

ease up, tiger. i'm just fucking with HP

he is against it. I just wanted to see what the rest of you thought.

Sorry, just grumpy today. :)

Yeah, I'll be you hate Frames, too. Get with the times... you can't expect technology to stand still for ya. :D

I agree that server-side processing is often better, but Javascript does have it's place. It allows a website to take advantage of the visitor's processing power and save the webserver the strain, it allows some computing/verifying to be done without having to hit the server again unnecessarily, it can perform simple tasks with less work, etc.

I know that you weren't being completely serious, but some people really do have a passionate, and misplaced, dislike for Javascript. And this is coming from someone who codes in Java, Perl, and PHP professionally.

I don't know if a forum is necessary... it has it's appeal, but that appeal is mostly ego-driven, which is bad. I think the thread will probably be OK under just Technology, unless of course this will be a multi-thread subject, in which case a separation of some kind may be warranted.

Let's post a poll, and have a naming contest! I mean... heheh...

LJ, your cough bet ruined my husband. Normally he would have posted a cough there instead of a heheh. See what reckless cellar betting gets you?

i'm so ashamed

I was actually thinking the same thing about doing this in a user hosted forum. But the Tech forum isn't that busy so maybe just start here and see where it goes.

::Having...trouble..fitting..into...my..school..desk. Must..find..#2 pencil. Damnit...forgot.. Smurf..lunch..box.. with..bologna.. sandwich.. and.. butterscotch.. puddin'::

I'm down to get into coding again. I haven't done any serious coding since the early 90's. I can't really remember anything but I ran across my old IBM flowchart template the other day and it made me nostalgic.

Let the lessons commence.

I'm going to try to get the thread started by tonight... I want to make myself a rudimentary outline so that I can approach the subject in a somewhat logical manner. That's my middle name... Alan "Hot 'Somewhat Logical' Pastrami" Bellows. The third. Esquire. Dot com.

Great, but where the hell is your journal? Haven't been able to get in for a while.:(